We have breakfast at the Ber Street Kitchen in Norwich
‘It’s very popular’ my husband warned as we set out for an on-spec, pre-work breakfast on a drizzly Friday.
I assumed there would be tables a-plenty, but we were lucky to get the last free table in the attractive café with its exposed brick walls, wooden floors – and fabulous food.
All these people enjoying breakfast out on a week day obviously know a thing or several about good food and where to find it.
The breakfast menu is imaginative with the essential full Englishes joined by three hashes (of which more soon) pancakes and baps and a range of fancy egg-based options including Benedict (featuring smoked beer bacon) Royale (with salmon), Florentine (spinach) and Forestiere – my choice which added sauteed wild mushrooms with herbs to the poached eggs and mustard hollandaise on toasted muffins.
It was heavenly; the rich hollandaise sauce cut through with a lovely citrus flavour, the perfectly-cooked eggs and mushrooms piled high.
The hashes were smoked haddock, chorizo, or vegan sausage and red onion and herb tofu, mixed into a mighty bowl of sauteed potatoes, eggs and much more. My husband chose Portugese hash with chorizo, tomato, squash, spinach and parmeson topped with fried egg. I tried some and can confirm it was delicious – and good value too as the rest of it saw him through his entire working day.
Ber Street Kitchen might have been busy but it was well-staffed so the atmosphere was calm and friendly. They do lunches too, and a good range of coffees, teas and soft drinks (plus a bring-your-own-booze corkage option.)
Our impromptu breakfast was a real treat and I will book ahead next time to be sure of a table.
theberstreetkitchen.co.uk
Our review visits are unannounced and we pay for our meals.
